News
Eric Blood ’13 makes mark at Junior National Rowing Camp
Posted July 24, 2012
Rising senior Eric Blood ’13 attended the invite-only Junior National Selection Camp for rowing in Seattle earlier this summer. While there, Blood competed against some of most talented young rowers in the country in hopes of earning one of four spots to compete at World Championships in Bulgaria in August. In the end, Blood missed a spot by just two seconds.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Blood. “I was the last cut and was only two seconds off of making the boat that is going to Worlds. It was kind of weird because you got to know the other rowers there really well, and even become pretty good friends with them, but I was still competing against them for a spot in the boat.”
Blood attended the Junior National Development Camp last year in Pittsburgh before qualifying for this summer’s National Selection Camp, which only invited 15 rowers from the United States. He said he hopes to qualify for the Under-23 team, which will also compete at the World Championships.
Blood pretty much rows year-round. In the summer and fall, he trains with the Whitemarsh Boat Club and rows for GA in the spring. On July 21, he competed in the Philly Youth Regatta where he swept the Junior 18 single event and placed second in the Single Dash. While he splits time between rowing for GA and Whitemarsh, Blood said he has immensely appreciates the support he receives from GA’s coaches and teachers.
“The coaches that we have at GA are amazing,” Blood said. “They also coach at Whitemarsh boat club so I'm always training under them and they know what I can do and what I need to do to improve. My teachers are always ready to meet with me if I miss a day of class because of a regatta, and I'm extremely grateful for that.”
